Sea Duck Joint Venture
A Conservation Partnership under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
The Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere; an adult weighs 1300–2660 grams (2.8–5.9 lbs) and is 50–71 cm (20–28 in.) long. Males are somewhat larger than females; size varies among races. The eider is a heavy-bodied sea duck with a relatively short, stout neck and a distinctive long, triangular (wedge-shaped) bill. There are four identified subspecies of Common Eider in North America.
Species Knowledge Summary and Information Needs
Sea Duck Information Series Fact Sheet [PDF]
Common Eider Photo Gallery
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Photo by Tim Bowman -
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Photo by Joel Heath -
Photo by Tim Bowman -
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Photo by Tim Bowman -
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Pacific common eiders migrating past Point Barrow, Alaska. Photo by Tim Bowman
Common Eider Range Maps
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More Information, Publications, and Proceedings
Article about American Common Eider research – Dec 2021
American Common Eider Range-Wide, Full Annual Cycle Telemetry Project
Wellfleet Bay Virus Workshop (American Common Eider), June 2014 – abstracts (pdf)
Wellfleet Bay Virus Workshop (American Common Eider), October 2015 – abstracts (pdf)
Duvetnor – Common Eiders and eider down harvest in Quebec
Article about common eider satellite telemetry on Rhode Island coast